Clause 186 - Exercise of powers by authorised person
Enterprise Bill
6:00 pm
Miss Melanie Johnson (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department of Trade and Industry; Welwyn Hatfield, Labour)
My understanding is that such an employee could be a ''competent person'' under certain circumstances, but people's exact backgrounds will not make any difference, because they will all work under OFT control and will be subject to all the safeguards associated with the powers of investigation. As is often the case, someone working for the OFT under such conditions will, to all intents and purposes and in terms of the requirements placed on them, be part of the OFT. That safeguard is in place.